Vehicle for transporting bridge sections

ABSTRACT

A vehicle for transporting bridge sections, each of which is made up of two beams to be coupled in end to end relation to form a lane of a two lane bridge. The vehicle supports the two beams of each section in side by side relation on a respective side of the vehicle with the lane forming sides vertical and facing outwardly. The beams, when transported to a place of use are moved laterally outwardly on the vehicle; are rotated about a fore and aft axis to dispose the lane forming sides upwardly; are connected to the corresponding beam of the other section; are moved longitudinally and coupled together in end to end relation; and are then removed from the vehicle and placed in working position.

United States Patent Wagner VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTING BRIDGE SECTIONSGerhard Wagner, Mainz-Lerchenberg, Germany [73] Assignee:Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz Aktiengesellschaft, Cologne, Germany 221 Filed:Oct. 21, 1974 21 Appl.No.:5l6,4l8

[75] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 16, 1975 PrimaryExaminerNile C; Byers, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Walter Becker 5 7ABSTRACT A vehicle for transporting bridge sections, each of which ismade up of two beams to be coupled in end to end relation to form a laneof a two lane bridge. The vehicle supports the two beams of each sectionin side by side relation on a respective side of the vehicle with thelane forming sides vertical and facing outwardly. The beams, whentransported to a place of use are moved laterally outwardly on thevehicle; are rotated about a fore and aft axis to dispose the laneforming sides upwardly; are connected to the corresponding beam of theother section; are moved longitudinally and coupled together in end toend relation; and are then removed from the vehicle and placed inworking position.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet 1 of43,925,840

US. Patent Dec.16, 1975 Sheet20f4 3,925,840

U.S. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet3 of4 3,925,840

O UD Illlllln US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 4 of4 3,925,840

VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTING BRIDGE SECTIONS ferrying possibilities exist,bridges have been developed, which can be quickly laid and whichprimarily comprise two or more bridge sections mountable on abridge-laying vehicle. The bridge sections may be coupled to each otherand may be laid by the respective vehicle as a bridge. After the bridgehas served its purpose, the vehicle can from the other bank again pickup the bridge sections and can lay the same at another place where theyare used. These quickly layable bridges must be able to afford thepossibility of moving the same within a minimum of time to variousplaces of employment. The heretofore known bridge-laying vehicles are,however, for economical reasons not particularly suitable for thetransport of the bridge sections. In addition thereto, the vehicle isdesigned as a track-laying vehicle with a bridge mounted thereon so thatthe vehicle frequently impeded traffic and is relatively slow.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide atransporting vehicle for bridge sections, which vehicle will be ablewithin a short time to cover greater distances and will so dimensionedas to meet traffic rules and regulations.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear moreclearly from the following specification, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a side view of a transportingvehicle according to the invention with bridge beams loaded thereon.

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a section taken along the line IIIIII of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates the vehicle according to FIG. 3, but with the bridgebeams moved outwardly beyond the normal width of the vehicle.

FIG. 5 shows in a view similar to FIG. 3 the bridge beams coupled to thebridge sections.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate in a side view the mounting of the bridge onthe bridge-laying vehicle.

FIG. 8 illustrates in a diagrammatic top view the transfer of asupporting unit from the transporting vehicle onto the bridge-layingvehicle.

The vehicle according to the invention for transporting bridges whichcan be quickly laid and the bridge sections of which comprise two bridgebeams, each forming a driving lane is characterized primarily in thatthe bridge beams are arranged individually on the vehicle inlongitudinal direction adjacent to each other and have their drivinglane sides arranged parallel to the vertical vehicle axis. I

For purposes of transferring the bridge beams from the transportingvehicle to the bridge-laying vehicle, it is advantageous when the bridgebeams which can be coupled to each other to form a driving lane of thebridge are arranged on the vehicle adjacent to each other. 1

Inasmuch as the bridge comprises two driving lanes adapted to be coupledto each other, it is necessary that the individual bridge beams which onthe vehicle are located adjacent to each other are coupled to formbridge sections. To this end, it is expedient when the bridge beams ofone bridge section are provided on the vehicle on the outside thereofand the bridge beams of the other bridge section are located between thelatter on the vehicle. For the correct location of the bridge beams onthe bridge-laying vehicle, it is advantageous when the bridge beams ofone bridge section are with their coupling sides located adjacent toeach other while the coupling sides of the outer bridge beams point tothe cab of the vehicle.

Inasmuch as for coupling the bridge beams to form bridge sections,different movements are necessary which cannot be carried out on thebridge-laying vehicle, the individual bridge beams are advantageouslyaccording to a further cevelopment of the invention, so mounted on thetransporting vehicle that the bridge beams respectively pertaining toone and the same driving lane are moved outwardly in opposite directionsbeyond the lateral ends of the transporting vehicle and in this positionare pivotable by an angle of After so pivoting the bridge beams, theirdriving lane sides are in horixontal direction located adjacent to eachother and are subsequently coupled by means of a bolt connection to formbridge sections.

For the special mounting of the bridge beams, a plurality of transversespars are connected to the vehicle frame. The transverse spars aredistributed over the length of the vehicle frame while at leasttwotransverse spars, especially those within the region of the front andrear ends of the bridge beams are extensible beyond the lateral ends ofthe vehicle. To this end, the transverse spars comprise pipes whichextend beyond the width of the vehicle and in which respectively twospar sections are displaceable in opposite directions.

For securing the bridge beams during the transport thereof, and forpivoting the same, holding arms are pivotally arranged at the outer endsof the spar sections. These holding arms will during the transport bedirected upwardly and will engage the driving lane upper sides of theouter bridge beams. The pivoting of I the holding arms is effected byhydraulic cylinder piston systems, one end of which is pivotallyconnected to the spar sections while the other end of said hydrauliccylinder piston systems is linked to the holding arms.

For purposes of displacing the bridge beams on the vehicle frame, withinthe region of the transverse spars and parallel thereto there areprovided hydraulic free cylinders which are adapted to be pulled out inopposite directions and are connected to the spar sections or transversespars.

If the transporting vehicle in addition to the bridge sections alsocarries the supporting unit comprising supports and bearing means forthe bridge, it is expedient for transferring the supports and thecrosshead to the bridge-laying vehicle, when the supports and thebearing means are located on the vehicle in longitudinal directionbetween the bridge beams pertaining to one and the same driving lane.

Finally, according to a further development of the invention, it issuggested that the supports have their foot plates located adjacent toeach other and engage those bottom sides of the outer bridge beams whichface each other and within the region of the coupling sides of saidouter bridge beams.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, for.transport ing a bridge 1which can be quickly laid, there is employed as vehicle 2 a multi-axletruck with, for instance, a front axle pair 3 and a rear axle pair 4. Bymeans of not illustrated springs, a vehicle frame 5 rests on axle pairs3 and 4. At the front end of the vehicle frame 5 there is connected adrivers cab 6 in which there is provided the nonillustrated drivingengine of the vehicle. For purposes of mounting the bridge 1 on thevehicle 2, a plurality of transverse spars 7, 8, 9 and 10 are connectedbehind the drivers cab 6. These transverse spars are in spacedarrangement distributed over the length of the vehicle frame 5.

The bridge 1 comprises bridge beams 11, 12, 13 and 14, which aredesigned as open or closed box-shaped hollow wall beams. For purposes oftransporting the bridge, the bridge 1 is divided into individual partswhile the bridge beams 11-14 which are used as parts of the drivingtrack have their wide sides placed upright in longitudinal direction onthe vehicle frame 5 so as to be located adjacent to each other. Thedriving track upper sides 15 to 18 of said bridge beams 11-14 arearranged parallel to a vertical axis of the vehicle. The total length ofthe two driving lanes is obtained by connecting the bridge lanes 11 and14, and 12 and 13 to each other. To this end, the bridge beams 11-14have equally designed coupling sides 19-22. From FIG. 2 it will be seenthat the bridge beams 11, 14; 12, 13 which form one driving lane eachare located adjacent to each other while their coupling sides 19, 22;20, 21 which are to be connected to each other point in oppositedirections. Connected to the bridge beams 11-14 are upwardly projectingtransverse spars 23; 24, by means of which the two outwardly locatedbridge beams 11, 12 can be connected to each other so that both bridgebeams 11, 12 form a bridge section of the bridge 1. The other bridgesection is formed by the bridge beams 13, 14. The connecting means arenot illustrated, but correspond to the elements 23 and 24 for beams 11and 12. The coupling together of the partial section formed by beams 11and 12 with the partial section formed by beams 13 and 14 is preferablyeffected in the manner described in my US. Pat. No. 3,754,293, issuedAug. 28, 1973.

For transferring the bridge from the transporting vehicle to abridge-laying vehicle, the bridge 1 which has been divided intoindividual bridge beams 11-14 has to be composed to form bridgesections. The composing of the bridge beams 11-14 to form bridgesections requires a plurality of pivoting and pushing movements of thebridge beams on the transporting vehicle 2. For this reason, thetransverse spars 7 and 9 have laterally extensible spar parts 25, 26which are respectively guided in the hollow transverse spar 7 or 8. Forpulling out the spar parts from the transverse spar 7 or 9 there areprovided hydraulic push cylinders 27-30. The cylinders 27 and 28 are,when viewing in driving direction, located in front and behind thetransverse spar 7, and the cylinders 29 and 30 are arranged in front andbehind the transverse spar 9 alongside thereof. Arranged on the sparparts 25 and 26 are holding arms 31 and 32 and on the nonillustratedspar parts of the transverse spar 9 there are pivotally arranged holdingarms 33 and 34 which are pivotable about a longitudinal axis of thevehicle. During the transport of the holding arms 31-34, the holdingarms will engage the driving lane sides 15, 16 of the bridge beams l1,12 (FIG. 3).

For purposes of assembling the individual bridge beams to form bridgesections, the holding arms 31-34 are by means of cylinder piston systems35, 36 pivoted into a horizontal position. Subsequently, the bridgebeams 11, 14 and 12, 13 which pertain to each other to form a drivinglane are from their transporting position moved in opposite directionslaterally outwardly toward the pivoted-off holding arms 31-34. Thisdisplacement is effected by means of the cylinder piston systems 27-30which engage the spar parts 25; 26. To this end the cylinders 27-30 aredisengaged from the spar parts and are fixed to the bridge beams 11, 14and 12, 13. Subsequently, the cylinder piston systems 27 30 are withthose ends which are located on the piston rod side again linked to theexpandable spar parts 25; 26 which by means of said cylinder pistonsystems 27 30 are pulled out from both sides of the transverse spars 7and 8 (FIG. 4). The bridge beams 11, 14 and 12, 13 are now pivoted bythe holding arms 31 34 relatively toward the center of the vehicle by'anangle of 90, and in this position are by means of the spar parts 2 movedto the center of the vehicle to such an extent that the struts 23 and 24can be connected to each other (FIG. 5). The individual bridge means 11,12; 13, 14 are thus coupled to form bridge sections which now may bereceived by a bridge-laying vehicle.

The transfer of the bridge 1 from the transport vehicle 2 to a layingvehicle 37 is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The vehicle 37 has its frontend provided with a laying arm 38 which is pivotable about a horizontalaxis and which together with a receiving device 39 forms the layingapparatus, said receiving device 39 being arranged at the rear end ofthe laying vehicle 37. The vehicle 37 moves toward the rear end of thetransport vehicle and threads the laying arm 38 into an inward guide ofthe two bridge beams 11, 12 while pulling the bridge beams 11 l4rearwardly off the vehicle frame by a portion of the length of saidbridge beams l 1 14. Subsequently, the laying vehicle moves its layingarm between the bridge beams 11, 12 to such an extent that the free endscan be grasped and held by the receiving device 39. The transfer of thebridge 1 from the transporting vehicle to the laying vehicle iscompleted and the vehicle 37 can then with the mounted bridge 1 thereonmove forward to the obstacle to be crossed, and the bridge 1 may then bysaid vehicle 37 be laid across the obstacle.

For purposes of bridging obstacles which are wider than one length ofthe bridge, so-called supportingunits are employed by means of which theadvanced bridge tip section rests upon the ground of the obstacle. Suchsupporting unit consists primarily of a support designed as a transverseyoke on which there arranged two supports with foot plates which aretelescopically variable as to their length. For purposes of laying sucha bridge, the entire supporting unit is mounted on the tip of the bridgeand is simultaneously laid with the bridge.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, for purposes of transporting the supportingunits 40, 41, the latter are separated from the bearing or support 42and are located on the vehicle frame 5 between the outer bridge beams11, 12. Their foot plates 43, 44 engage the bottom sides of the outerbridge beams 11, 12 within the region of the coupling sides 19, 20. Thesupport 42 is when viewing the vehicle in driving direction, locatedbehind the supports between the bridge beams 13, 14. The mounting of thesupporting unit between the bridge beams is so effected that followingthe displacement and pivoting of the bridge beams 11 14, the supportingunit is for purposes of being received by the laying vehicle located ina correct position.

After receving the bridge 1, the laying vehicle 37 moves from one sideto the rear end of the transporting vehicle and with the tip of thebridge picks up the support 42 from the vehicle 2 (FIG. 8). After thecrosshead 42 has been connected to the front end of the bridge beams 11,12, the laying vehicle 37 turns around to such an extent that the entiredevice is located alongside the transporting vehicle 2. By movingforwardly and rearwardly, the laying vehicle 37 picks up the support 41,as illustrated by dot-dash lines in FIG. 8. The picking up of support 40is effected from the other vehicle side. After changing over to theother vehicle side, the laying vehicle moves with the support 42alongside and past the vehicle and picks up the support 40.Subsequently, the bridge 1 can be laid with the picked-up supportingunit.

It is of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by nomeans, limited to the specific showing in the drawings, but alsocomprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle for transporting bridge sections each comprising at least apair of bridge beams; said vehicle including means for supporting saidsections on longitudinal side by side relation with the roadway formingsides of the beams parallel to the vertical, each beam having couplingmeans atone end for connection to the other beam of the respectivesection, one beam of each section being toward the outside of thevehicle and the other beam of each section being adjacent the said onebeam toward the center of the vehicle, the coupling means of said onebeam of each section being at the forward end of the vehicle and thecoupling means of the other beam of each section being toward therearward end of the vehicle.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 in which the pair of beams for makingup a bridge section when coupled together are on the same lateral sideof the vehicle.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1 in which one beam of each bridgesection is disposed toward the outside of the vehicle and the otherbeams of said sections are disposed between the first mentioned beams.

4. A vehicle according to claim 1 in which the pair of beams for eachsection are on a respective lateral side of the vehicle and have theroadway forming surfaces vertical, said vehicle comprising means formoving each pair of beams laterally outwardly on the vehicle and forrotating the beams 90 about a fore and aft axis.

5. A vehicle according to claim 4 in which the beams of each pair havecoupling means at respectively opposite ends thereof, and means formoving the beams of each pair relatively in the longitudinal directioninto coupling position.

6. A vehicle according to claim 1 which include transverse spars on thevehicle spaced in the longitudinal direction and operable for supportingengagement with said beams.

7. A vehicle according to claim 6 in which at least two spaced ones ofthe spars are adapted for extension laterally beyond the lateral limitsof the vehicle.

8. A vehicle according to claim 1 which includes further bridge elementson the vehicle adapted for connection to said beams, said further bridgeelements being disposed between said pairs of beams on the vehicle.

9. A vehicle according to claim 8 in which said further bridge elementsinclude elements which are disposed between the outermost beams on thevehicle and engage the sides of the outermost beams which are lowermostwhen the said beams are in operative position.

10. A vehicle for transporting bridge sections each comprising at leasta pair of bridge beams; said vehicle including means for supporting saidsections in longitudinal side by side relation with the roadway formingsaides of the beams parallel to the vertical, transverse spars on thevehicle spaced in the longitudinal direction and operable for supportingengagement with said beams, at least two spaced ones of the spars beingadapted for extension laterally beyond the lateral limits of thevehicle, said two spars being tubular, and spar elements slidable in thetwo tubular spars to extend the spars.

11. A vehicle according to claim 10 which includes holding armspivotally connected to the outer ends of said spar elements, said armsbeing vertically disposed during transport of said sections, at leastthe outermost beam of each section having the roadway forming sidevertical and engaging the respective said holding arms.

12. A vehicle according to claim 10 which includes fluid motorsconnected to said spar elements and reversibly operable for reversiblymoving the spar elements in the tubular spars.

13. A vehicle according to claim 11 which includes a fluid motorconnected between each holding arm and the respective spar elementoperable for rotating the holding arm on the spar element.

14. The method of transporting and installing two lane bridges in whicha pair of beams are provided to be connected in end to end relation toform each lane of the bridge, said method including in combination thesteps of placing the pairs of beams on a transport vehicle with thebeams of each pair in adjacent relation and with the lane forming sidesthereof vertical and facing Y laterally outwardly of the vehicletransporting the beams on the vehicle to a place of use, moving eachpair of beams laterally outwardly on the vehicle, rotating each pair ofbeams about a fore and aft axis to dispose the lane forming sidesthereof uppermost, connecting the beams of each pair to thecorresponding beams of the other pair, moving the coupled beamsrelatively to dispose the beams in end to end relation while at leastpartially supported on the vehicle, joining the coupled beams togetherin end to end relation, removing the resulting two lane bridge structurefrom the vehicle, and placing the bridge structure in posi-

1. A vehicle for transporting bridge sections each comprising at least apair of bridge beams; said vehicle including means for supporting saidsections on longitudinal side by side relation with the roadway formingsides of the beams parallel to the vertical, each beam having couplingmeans at one end for connection to the other beam of the respectivesection, one beam of each section being toward the outside of thevehicle and the other beam of each section being adjacent the said onebeam toward the center of the vehicle, the coupling means of said onebeam of each section being at the forward end of the vehicle and thecoupling means of the other beam of each section being toward therearward end of the vehicle.
 2. A vehicle according to claim 1 in whichthe pair of beams for making up a bridge section when coupled togetherare on the same lateral side of the vehicle.
 3. A vehicle according toclaim 1 in which one beam of each bridge section is disposed toward theoutside of the vehicle and the other beams of said sections are disposedbetween the first mentioned beams.
 4. A vehicle according to claim 1 inwhich the pair of beams for each section are on a respective lateralside of the vehicle and have the roadway forming surfaces vertical, saidvehicle comprising means for moving each pair of beams laterallyoutwardly on the vehicle and for rotating the beams 90* about a fore andaft axis.
 5. A vehicle according to claim 4 in which the beams of eachpair have coupling means at respectively opposite ends thereof, andmeans for moving the beams of each pair relatively in the longitudinaldirection into coupling position.
 6. A vehicle according to claim 1which include transverse spars on the vehicle spaced in the longitudinaldirection and operable for supporting engagement with said beams.
 7. Avehicle according to claim 6 in which at least two spaced ones of thespars are adapted for extension laterally beyond the lateral limits ofthe vehicle.
 8. A vehicle according to claim 1 which includes furtherbridge elements on the vehicle adapted for connection to said beams,said further bridge elements being disposed between said pairs of beamson the vehicle.
 9. A vehicle according to claim 8 in which said furtherbridge elements include elements which are disposed between theoutermost beams on the vehicle and engage the sides of the outermostbeams which are lowermost when the said beams are in operative position.10. A vehicle for transporting bridge sections each comprising at leasta pair of bridge beams; said vehicle including means for supporting saidsections in longitudinal side by side relation with the roadway formingsaides of the beams parallel to the vertical, transverse spars on thevehicle spaced in the longitudinal direction and operable for supportingengagement with said beams, at least two spaced ones of the spars beingadapted for extension laterally beyond the lateral limits of thevehicle, said two spars being tubular, and spar elements slidable in thetwo tubular spars to extend the spars.
 11. A vehicle according to claim10 which includes holding arms pivotally connected to the outer ends ofsaid spar elements, said arms being vertically disposed during transportof said sections, at least the outermost beam of each section having theroadway forming side vertical and engaging the respective said holdingarms.
 12. A vehicle according to claim 10 which includes fluid motorsconnected to said spar elements and reversibly operable for reversiblymoving the spar elements in the tubular spars.
 13. A vehicle accordingto clAim 11 which includes a fluid motor connected between each holdingarm and the respective spar element operable for rotating the holdingarm on the spar element.
 14. The method of transporting and installingtwo lane bridges in which a pair of beams are provided to be connectedin end to end relation to form each lane of the bridge, said methodincluding in combination the steps of placing the pairs of beams on atransport vehicle with the beams of each pair in adjacent relation andwith the lane forming sides thereof vertical and facing laterallyoutwardly of the vehicle transporting the beams on the vehicle to aplace of use, moving each pair of beams laterally outwardly on thevehicle, rotating each pair of beams about a fore and aft axis todispose the lane forming sides thereof uppermost, connecting the beamsof each pair to the corresponding beams of the other pair, moving thecoupled beams relatively to dispose the beams in end to end relationwhile at least partially supported on the vehicle, joining the coupledbeams together in end to end relation, removing the resulting two lanebridge structure from the vehicle, and placing the bridge structure inposition.